May 11, 2018
AUBURN, Ala. ââ'¬" Associate head coach Jessica Braswell of the national champion Auburn equestrian team was named the 2018 National Collegiate Equestrian Association Coach of the Year, the organization announced Friday.
"I'm so proud of Jessica," head coach Greg Williams said. "From a former athlete, graduate assistant, and now a coach, she is Auburn through and through. We are lucky to have her and she definitely deserves this recognition.
The Tigers captured the NCEA National Championship in Waco, April 21, defeating No. 1 seed Georgia. The national title was the program's fifth overall and second in the last three years.
Braswell led the team's Hunt Seat corps to the NCEA Hunt Seat crown as well as the Equitation Over Fences event title. Overall, the squad went 22-6 in Fences and 23-4-1 in Equitation on the Flat over the four-day championship.
In addition, Braswell guided all four Hunt Seat competitors to recognition at the end of the national meet. Freshman Taylor St. Jacques went undefeated in both disciplines, earning the Most Outstanding Performer of the championship in Flat and a spot on both the Fences and Flat All-Championship teams.
A trio of juniors also picked up big accolades in Caitlin Boyle, Ashton Alexander, and Hayley Iannotti. Boyle was named the MOP in Fences and secured a spot on both All-Championship squads. The Hampshire, Ill., product went undefeated in Fences for the Tigers, while taking just one loss in Flat.
Alexander was placed on the Fences All-Championship team, while Iannotti rode to a spot on the Flat team.
In total, Auburn took home five of seven possible trophies at the national meet. To go with the national championship and the two Hunt Seat titles, the Western crew captured the overall Western crown as well as the Horsemanship championship.
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